20 Exceptional Libations That Put the Spring in Spring - Lake County Libation Trail
By: Jonathan Jones 05/17/2019
As we take a look at 20 exceptional libations that put the spring in spring from the Lake County Libation Trail, we also celebrate Illinois Craft Beer Week.
Lake County is home to 13 libation trail brewhouses including the first craft brewery in the county in Mickey Finn's.
Take advantage of all the delicious flavors that come with spring adult beverages.
Here are your 20 exceptional libations that put the spring in spring.
Outlook: That weird word is actually the Latin translation for corn. Brewers back in the 19th Century would add the amazing maize to add sweetness to the harsh tasting barley. This type of suds was created in the 1800s and was common for brews all the way until the Prohibition era, however, the style was forgotten. Get a taste of social studies with this 4.9 percent adult beverage with an IBU of 19.
Bosacki's Home Brew Microbrewery, 610 E. Hawley St., Mundelein.
Outlook: Chocolate and bacon. Who can say no?! This chocolate bacon stout with an ABV of 5.8 percent rated 35 on the IBU scale can be thoroughly enjoyed year-round. With the Long Grove Chocolate Festival in May and the village's Strawberry Festival in June, this is the perfect time to complement our favorite sweet treat and an enormous berry with a little more chocolate influence.
Buffalo Creek Brewing Co., 360 Historical Ln., Long Grove.
Outlook: Illinois-Made drinkery offers a libation excellent for this time of year. Their mixologists call the cocktail "the First Sign of Summer." Utilizing the Lake Zurich distillery's Copper Fiddle Silver Rum, sippers will take 1.5 ounces of the aforementioned featured spirit, mixed with three-fourths of an ounce of raspberry syrup, a squeeze of a lime wedge, two dashes of grapefruit bitters and one-to-two ounces of Sprite. All of the ingredients must go into a shaker tin with ice. Pour that concoction into a Collins Glass and stir gently and there you have your first sign of seasonal warmth.
Copper Fiddle Distillery, 532 W. IL Route 22, Lake Zurich.
Outlook: "The only true wisdom consists in knowing that you know nothing." The words of Socrates... or in the words from Bill from "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" "So-Crates" is an extremely tart and a most excellent blueberry sour. We've "witnessed many things, but nothing as bodacious as what just happened" as the Barrington brewhouse created this berry-flavored 5.5 percent ABV libation. "Be excellent to one another, and party on dudes!"
Flesk Brewing Co., 200 Applebee St., Suite E, Barrington.
Outlook: This delicious red wine has aged in oak for an average of 25 years. The 17 percent ABV vino is jam-packed with butterscotch and maple syrup flavors. In the 2018 Central Coast Wine Competition, the Grayslake winery’s fortified port wine was awarded the “Best Dessert Wine” for the second-year running.
Glunz Family Winery and Cellars, 888 E. Belvidere Rd., Grayslake.
Outlook: This session IPA is jam-packed with fruity citrus flavors. A generous amount of wheat adds to your taste bud adventure while it obtains a clean refreshing finish. A firm bitterness rounds out the flavor of this palatable ale. The fan-favorite brew stands at a 4.8 percent.
Half Day Brewing Co., 200 Village Green, Lincolnshire.
Outlook: Are you saying a brew could be a milkshake and a bowl of Special K cereal? Yes, you read correctly. This exceptional IPA is brewed with zero boil hops and is a packed with a ton of citra and mosaic hops for an incredible aroma and finish. This April 2019 Lake County Libation of the Month has a 6.7 percent ABV.
Outlook: "Would you like the deposit defrayed from the cost of a jumbo cherry Squishee?” – Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. The Kwik-E-Mart delight hath returned to the Grayslake brewpub. The libation is a sour with lactose and extra mango and passion fruit. The spring-timey suds contain 4.2 percent ABV.
Outlook: This white wine, pronounced "vee-own-yay" contains grapes from Ripon, California. The Rhone-style beauty was fermented in stainless steel tanks that allow the temperature to capture the vino's tropical essence. The aromas wafting from the island wine is papaya, mango, honeysuckle and grapefruit. The libation pairs well with curry, veal, spicy eats and baked brie. Serve the 14.5 percent ABV beverage at 55 degrees.
Outlook: As the brewpub's most popular spring/summer beer, this Hefeweizen, German-style wheat ale is fermented with 60 percent wheat malt and 40 percent malted barley. This Libertyville libation has won several awards. The Hefe is unfiltered, allowing the yeast to remain in suspension ultimately creating a hazy appearance. This unique brand of suds has notes of banana, clove and vanilla. Non-beer drinkers tend to gravitate toward this 5.5 percent ABV beverage.
Mickey Finn's Brewery, 345 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville.
Outlook: The gin and vodka concocters released their first whiskey in 2018. This whiskey provides an excellent style and flavor profile. This rich 42.5 percent ABV libation contains malt, heather and eucalyptus. The flavor is jam-packed with honey, fruit and rye spice. The dry-finish whiskey has been blended in North Shore Distillery's aged barrels for seven years.
North Shore Distillery, 13990 Rockland Rd., Green Oaks.
Outlook: The American IPA has a perfect blend of hop bitterness, aroma and malt body. Watch out because that misfit can kick with some bitterness, but it’s quite pleasant due to the centennial and Citra hops. The 6.5 percent ABV beverage also has a hint of citrus in the aftertaste. We would have featured the Drago Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout, but it appears that the libation has been a hot commodity and sold out. We hope this toasted oak, vanilla-toned, coffee hinting Soviet brew will make a reappearance
The Onion Pub & Brewery, 22221 N. Pepper Rd., Lake Barrington.
Outlook: Pucker up, buttercup. This Gurnee Pale Ale is brewed with lime zest and agave; the perfect combination of sweet and sour. The crisp finish of this brew pairs nicely with the assortment of food vendors that the brewery brings to their tap room most weekends. This 5.3 percent Latin-themed brew was the Visit Lake County Libation of the Month in March.
Only Child Brewing Co., 130 Tri-State Pkwy., Suite 124, Gurnee.
